MacGregorSailors.com

Ok so here is my story:

I was out in way to big of waves last year and came down on a sand bar a couple miles out and snapped my centerboard clean off in Lake Mi. So I contacted IDA and with the insurance money had them make me a pretty sweet centerboard. I also had them add about 40 lb of weight to the bottom. In my mind this was a great opportunity to get a little more weight and a better board.

Here is my issue:

Now even all the way retracted and the line as tight as it can go, (I did get a new rope from BWY), it hangs down about 4+ inches. Now this is not the end of the world except the launch I am on is very shallow and so I get hung up on the trailer.

Has anyone had any experience or Ideas about what I could do to fix? Currently I get down the ramp, stick a 5 foot 1x4 down there and hang a cinder block off the end to hold up the CB and walk the boat off. Then head in the water to retrieve the board and block. I was thinking about maybe a rope or flat strap.

Thanks in advance.

Sounds as if that extra 40 pounds is testing the line. Here's an idea. Why not attach a small wood or plastic extention onto the front of the center bunk using ss screws. This should help support the heavier cb at the same level as the bunk and assist in the launching. At least you won't have to swim after the 5 foot board.

I have a nylon strap run across my trailer frame under the cb just in case it tries to fall through. Cheap insurance. I've seen road rash on a Mac cb. Not pretty.

I once 'Mac Bumped' mine just a little too hard, and I hadn't secured the CB all the way up. It got caught in front of the middle support, and I had to drop the CB hanger to get it back up where it belonged. So I made a short piece of large angle, which I have yet to bolt to that cross member, but when in place it will prevent the CB from dropping if it ever tried to, and if I have the boat mashed too far forward again.

Perhaps something like that is all you need. Even just a couple of angles with a length of 2-by running fore and aft (maybe 2x6 for the extra width), even with some bunk carpet. It's only going to support any load when the trailer comes up to meet the boat as it's pulled out of the water, so wherever the end of the CB is will be where the load is placed. In other words, the CB doesn't even need to slide on the support, as the trailer comes up to meet it, but it will wiggle around a little when trailering, so some kind of surface that won't damage the CB would be in order.

Edit: Found the pic. Embarrassing as it may be.

Question: Does the centerboard retract fully using the board and block or at any other time you know of? If not then the board is obviously not designed properly. If it can be pushed up into the center well completely, I would suggest the lifting rope is not attached at the proper point.

2 cents.

Ken